Base-ball game.



W. H. ROGERS.

BASE BALL GAME.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1911.

wwwa, Patented' o... 2,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WIT/VESSES TTOBIVEYS W. H. ROGERS.

BASE BALL GAME.

APPLlcATloN FILED FEB. a. 1911.

Patented oet. 2,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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WILLIAM H. ROGERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BASE-BALL GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. 2, iai a.

Application led February 3, 1917. Serial No. 146,388.

To /LZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Base-Ball Game, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to games and to what may be termed a base ball game, and has for an object the provision of animproved construction which will require skill in manipulating certain parts and also require accuracy in sighting with the eye.

Another object in view is to provide a game which will at the same time act as an exercising and training device for ball players.

A further object of the invention, more specifically, is to provide a game with a resilient and adjustable supporting device for a ball and means for catching the ball when projected in the air by a bat or other implement. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the structure shown in Fig. 1, the same being on a slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through Fig. 2 on line 3 3.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 2 on line 4--4.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 2 on line 5'-5-.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through a stand embodying certain features of the invention.l

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through one of the targets embodying certain features of the invention.

'Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates a body having upstanding sides projecting beyond the inclined bottom 2, which bottom is spaced above the inclined return ball race 3, as shown in Fig. 2. The walls 4 are suiciently high to prevent any balls from being lost,

while the inclined race 3 directs the balls toa point below opening 5. It is to be understood, of course, that the walls 4 could extend down to the ground, as shown in Fig. 2, or could fall short of the ground, as preferred. One end of the body 1, namely, the outer end 6, is' lower than the inner end 7.

The in ner end 7 is formed in the shape of a housing, as shown in Fig. 2, arranged with a front plate having apertures 8. The rear wall of the housing 7 may be provided with an' opening 9 or may be solid. If provided with an opening 9 a pad or cushioning member 10 is provided against which the balls strike when forced through any of the apertures 8 whereby the blow is cushioned and the balls are allowed to drop down on to the Hoor of the ball race 3, whereby the balls will gravitate to near the opening 5.

Arranged on the top of the end of the casing or housing 7 are a plurality of tubular members 11, as shown in detail in Fig. 7 each of said tubular members containing a weight 12 and a cord 13 for connecting the respective balls or targets 14 with the weights 12 so that whenever a ball or target 14 is struck and knocked of of the tubular member 11 the weight 12 will be raised to a certain extent but the target 14 will not be moved an appreciable distance from its respective position. Arranged near the lower or outer end 6 is a stand 15 which is prefer ably made independent so as to be more easily transported and placed at any convenient point. The stand 15 is provided with a base 15 having. an aperture therein, as shown in Fig. 6, through which the lower end of the tubular upstanding support 16 extends. The support 16 is provided with a slot 17 and a plurality of notches 18 alfranged on opposite sides, into which the pin 19 may be {itted at any time, said pin being rigidly secured to the sliding bar 20. It will be noted that the notches 18 on one side are half way between the notches 18 on the opposite side, whereby a shorter raise in the.

bar 2O may be secured. At the upper end bar 20 carries a sleeve 21 formed of metal or any other desired material, which is rigidly secured to bar 20 and into which a rubber stem or member 22 fits. As shown in Fig. 6, the rubber member or stem #22 is curved or formed with a socket at the upper end for receiving the base ball 23.

In playing the game it is designed to arrange the support 16 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or at some other point in front of the rear end or compartment 7, and then allow some one to strike the base ball 23 with a base ball bat and attempt to drive o r project the ball 23 through one of the apertures 8- or against for any 011e to knock a ball so that the same will pass through the apertures 8. It'will also be observed that by providing a stand as described the batter may stand on either' lside so as to learn to bat either right hand- 'ed or left handed. In order that the batter may not injure the stand the stein 22 of rubber is provided, which Will easily give in case the batter misses the ball or partly hits the stem. It is of course understood that the casing or body 1 may be of any length and the parts may be of any size, but preferably the stand 16 is a sufficient distance from the aperture 8 to require some considerable skill in driving the balls through the apertures. In view of this fact it may be necessary to place a Wire or other screen around the rear part of the device so that theballs will not become lost. It Will also be noted that the balls passing through the apertures 8 will be returned through the ball race 3, While balls failing to pass therethrough willlfallback on the Hoor 2 and.i gravitate to the front end 6. Any rules desired Imay be provided according to circumstances for persons who drive the ball 23 through any of the apertures 8 or Who strike any of the targets 14.

What I claim is: 1. A base ball game comprising a body formed with means for directing balls in a given direction, a casing formed With apertures through which balls may be projected, a plurality of targets arranged above said casing, tubular supporting members for said targets, a flexible member connected with target, a weight connected to each flexible member for normally holding the targets on the upper end of said tubular members, and means for supporting a ball in position to be projected toward said apertures and toward said targets as Well;

2. A base ball game comprising target members, means for directing a ball through said target members to a distant point, and a base ball stand arranged adjacent said distant point, said base ball stand being provided with a supporting construction and a rubber member of an appreciable length on top of said supporting construction, said rubber member having a depression for receiving a base ball.

3. In a base ball game of the character described, a base ball stand comprising a fixed tubular member having a plurality of notches therein, a reciprocating bar arranged in said tubular member and projecting from one end thereof, a pin connected to sald bar and arranged to engage any of said notches for adjustably supporting said bar, a rubber cushioning member arranged on said bar for supporting a base ball, and target means arranged at a distance but coacting with said stand for receiving said balls when projected from the stand.

.. WILLIAM H. ROGERS. 

